Topic: Metro 2033: Updated into Metro Redux for 2014

[MysterD]

NEW - 1-15-2011:
Destrutoid -> THQ talks about what they learned from Metro 2033.

OLD:
IGN -> FPS game coming from 4A Studios, which include some of the guys that worked on STALKER.

Game is based a Russian book of the same name.

Game takes place in two locations primarily:
--the underground where a few of the human left to survive for shelter b/c...
--the above-ground world got turned into a wasteland from a cataclysmic event - and this is where you'll need to go to get supplies so you can survive.

[idolminds]

Eurogamer hands on
Trailer

Taking its cues from BioShock, Half-Life 2 and, inevitably, S.T.A.L.K.E.R., Metro 2033 follows the adventures of Artyom, a young man born in the years leading up to a devastating fictional nuclear holocaust of 2013. 20 years later, the game kicks off with Artyom as part of a ragtag, dystopian generation of underground survivors who can only dream of daylight, blue skies and fresh air. And nibbles.

---

It's an oppressive experience from the word go, driven by tension and a malevolent atmosphere that has you duking it out with twisted mutants and ruthless mercenaries as you penetrate the gloom. With no HUD to speak of, you have to rely on other cues to determine your status. For example, you have to glance at the magazine cartridge passing through the firing chamber to see how much ammo you've got left, while checking your map actually involves pulling your map case out and illuminating it with a cigarette lighter if it's too dark to see. Health-packs are applied in similarly physical fashion, and using the gas mask necessitates looking at your watch to check on the remaining air supply.

Metro 2033's quest for authenticity also extends to how it makes you deal with the precious resources around you. As you might expect, ammo is exceptionally scarce 20 years on from nuclear obliteration, forcing you to ransack every enemy you encounter. And because of the toxic air and challenging climate, the gas mask only lasts for a limited time, frosting up and gradually impairing your view. Even the lighting within this gloomy netherworld is rather hardline, with players able to shoot out each individual light-source, while the torch must be manually charged.

Sounds pretty cool, actually.

[MysterD]

I had a thread on this game, a short time ago.
This calls for a thread merge.

[W7RE]

Metro 2033 release date confirmed for March 16th.

Sort of weird. I feel like I've seen almost nothing on this game, and it's coming out in a month in a half.

[W7RE]

Preorder on Steam and get Red Faction Guerilla FREE.

[MysterD]

ALL copies of Metro 2033 require Steam.

[W7RE]

I'm getting more and more excited about this game. Since there's been pretty much no talk about it here, here's some of what I can remember about it off the top of my head:

-Based on a Russian book of the same name, by author Dmitry Glukhovsky
-Takes place 20 years after the nuclear blast. People live in the metro system in Moscow (which in reality is designed to house people in case of such an incident)
-Different stations are different towns, and all have unique politics and attitudes on the situation. Some are devoid of human life altogether.
-It's sort of a survival horror FPS
-It's relatively linear, which the devs see as a good thing because it allows them more control over the pacing and storytelling
-Most guns are pieced together from spare parts and use homemade ammo. Pre-blast ammo is more powerful, but also serves as currency.
-You have to wear a gas mask when on the surface, which needs it's filter replaced every so often or you'll choke to death. Also avoid letting the mask get damaged, or you'll need to find a new one.
-Your watch shows you how hidden you are, and shooting out lights and such helps you stay in the darkness. (the watch is visible on your left inner-wrist as you hold your gun)
-The game has zero multiplayer. The devs feel that the fiction and storytelling are what the game is about, and it doesn't need a MP mode using up valuable development resources.



Here's some engine info on Digital Foundry


Some screenshots:










And here's one of the trailers that shows off some gameplay.

[W7RE]

Haha, just as you were posting this, I was in the middle of typing up a big long post in the other Metro 2033 thread.

[MysterD]

So, we got GSC's open-world STALKER and now this linear-STALKER (Metro 2033).
Sounds good to me.

[idolminds]

ALL copies of Metro 2033 require Steam.

Sigh....*scratches another one off his list*

[Pugnate]

I think the visuals look incredible, but come on guys, find a new setting. Reading about that just made me groan.

[PyroMenace]

Well it is based on a really popular book in Russia. And from my understanding the target demograph is more so for them than the US. I'm still really interested in this.

[W7RE]

Yea I think it looks great. I really hope it turns out good.

[Quemaqua]

Yeah, it looks great to me too.  I'll definitely be keeping an eye on it.

[MysterD]

I think the visuals look incredible, but come on guys, find a new setting. Reading about that just made me groan.

What do you feel is beat to death?

The destroyed Russian world setting?
Or the fact it's an underground setting?

[W7RE]

PC system requirements revealed:

Minimum:
Dual core CPU (any Core 2 Duo or better will do)
DirectX 9, Shader Model 3 compliant graphics cards (GeForce 8800, GeForce GT220 and above)
1GB RAM

Recommended:
Any Quad Core or 3.0+ GHz Dual Core CPU
DirectX 10 compliant graphics card (GeForce GTX 260 and above)
2GB RAM

Optimum:
Core i7 CPU
NVIDIA DirectX 11 compliant graphics card (GeForce GTX 480 and 470)
As much RAM as possible (8GB+)
Fast HDD or SSD

Enabling 3D Vision
Metro 2033 utilizes NVIDIA 3D Vision with compatible cards and hardware. To play in 3D you will require:
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 275 and above recommended
A 120Hz (or above) monitor
NVIDIA 3D Vision kit
Microsoft Windows Vista or Windows 7

[Quemaqua]

Damn.  That's pretty steep.

[W7RE]

Cool gameplay video/interview with one of the devs and the writer of the book.

Part 2 of the video

[gpw11]

Holy shit this looks awesome.  It's going to suck isn't it?

[Pugnate]

PC system requirements revealed:

haha that's insane... at the same time that's awesome. Its been too fucking long since a game PUSHED the hardware.

Let's hope they have some way to make sure it doesn't get pirated up to its rear end .

[MysterD]

Let's hope they have some way to make sure it doesn't get pirated up to its rear end .

Well, making it require Steam is probably a good start...

[Quemaqua]

If by "good" you mean "fucking horrible".

[MysterD]

If by "good" you mean "fucking horrible".

I mean "good" (for the dev's and publishers) as in it should protect the product at least from Before Day
Zero Piracy, Actual Day Zero Piracy, and maybe even Week 1 Piracy. Not many games and DRM's can claim to often get through that, these days. I'm really tired of piracy and the annoying chain reactions it keeps causing - PC version comes last; PC version not coming; no DLC for PC version; game series no longer coming to PC; etc etc. Piracy and overly-protective DRM bullshit needs to end, but that probably wouldn't ever happen...not anytime soon.

But, yeah - if you hate Steam w/ a passion; had trouble and technical problems w/ Steam; don't like that you have to activate SP portions of a game; hate that you have to run Steam program to actually boot a game (in offline or online mode) - yeah, Steam isn't gonna make you happy by any means. I think Impulse is better than Steam in many regards - it's just Steam got a major jump in the market before really anyone else.

[MysterD]

Talk on Metro 2033 with Nvidia High End cards and their 3D glasses.

Here more details on the 3D.

[Pugnate]

Saw a trailer.

It is a pretty poor trailer. Very underwhelming. I am sure it doesn't reflect fairly on the actual game. At least, I hope not:

[PyroMenace]

Really? You didnt like it?

I will admit its not the greatest looking game, but I'm not expecting it to be since its the same people that worked on STALKER I think, or at least some of them. While I didn't enjoy STALKER I still liked the idea of it and I'm hoping this will be a better improvement of that.

[Quemaqua]

I dunno', it still looks sweet to me.

[W7RE]

Yea I think it looks great, can't wait to try it out.

[Pugnate]

I think the visuals are impressive... it just doesn't seem very interesting.

[scottws]

I thought the trailer was pretty interesting, personally.  Actually it raised my interest.  Looks like I'm on the low end of the requirements though, at least for my videocard (8800 GTS 320 MB).

[Pugnate]

http://xbox360.ign.com/dor/objects/39148/metro-2033-the-last-refuge/videos/metro2033_vdr_031910.html?show=hi

edit:

Watch the fairly positive review and then tell me if the score revealed at the end doesn't catch you a little off guard.

[Pugnate]

Another average score, this time from gamespot:

http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/action/metro2033thelastrefuge/video/6253784/metro-2033-video-review

From the gamespot video, the game looks to have some awesome portions... but they don't cover some of the weaker bits reported in the IGN review like the frustrating stealth sequences.

It does look enticing, but I really loathe frustrating stealth portions in a game.

[iPPi]

The atmosphere and setting looks awesome.  It's a shame that some of the gameplay mechanics don't work well and appears to tarnish what would otherwise be a phenomenal game.

[MysterD]

http://xbox360.ign.com/dor/objects/39148/metro-2033-the-last-refuge/videos/metro2033_vdr_031910.html?show=hi

edit:

Watch the fairly positive review and then tell me if the score revealed at the end doesn't catch you a little off guard.

Watched the vid review.

It's like he gushes on what he likes, then in the last few seconds says what he doesn't like and doesn't explain it (lack of tutorials, glitches, stealth elements)....
Then gives it a 6.9?
Very odd.

I'mma have to read the written review...

EDIT:
The written review's quite short and says pretty much what the vid review did....
 

I dunno how he gave this a 6.9, given his thoughts...

[Xessive]

The GameTrailers review seemed more thorough.

[W7RE]

I've got it, but I don't want to say much since I've barely touched it (thanks to BFBC2). I like it so far, though I've really only gone through like 2 action sequences vs mutants, and one stealth part against humans (which unavoidably turned to action when I ran out of guys to pick off in the dark and had to get the guys who were bunched up.

So far I like it, I like the mood and setting and the more complicated mechanics. Like being able to pull out a thing to crank up to give more power to your flashlight (thus making it brighter), or having to manually pump the pneumatics guns for more air pressure (and thus more damage), or having to put on a gas mask and keep a stock of filters for it for when you get into an area with bad air. This stuff pushes towards a more realism feel, but not far enough to keep it from being fun.

Also, listening to the characters talk to eachother, you get the feeling they have a history and backstory. Usually what you see is what you get, but here there's more than you're told. This is probably because of it being taken from a book. Like when you meet up with some guy, your buddy says to you under his breath something like "shit, this guy's gonna have my nuts." Then says to the guy "it's great to see you again". I get the feeling some bad shit went down between them at some point. The book probably expanded on that, but trying to tell all that during a casual hello would have been awkward in the game so they just give you a hint.

[Pugnate]

Don't say "I'mmma", D.

[MysterD]

Don't say "I'mmma", D.

I'll say what I wanna and stuph...

[MysterD]

THQ announces Metro 2033: Ranger Pack DLC for X360 and PC (Steam) versions of the game.

[Xessive]

I picked up the THQ pack on Steam during the summer sale for $50 and Metro 2033 was in the pack. I was hoping it would allow me to gift any duplicates (primarily Dawn of War 2) but no luck there, shame.

Anyway, finally played 2033 and I really like it so far! It's very atmospheric! Actually, it's what I was expecting when I first played STALKER.

From a technical point, framerate performance is so-so and the config options are very limited. You're pretty much stuck with the presets: low, medium, high, very high (each displays which options are being changed but you can't manually adjust any of them).

The game is very peculiar about all the little gadgets you have to use (gas mask, flashlight & battery charger, etc.). I'm starting to get the hang of it but I do feel one thing it's really missing a melee attack that doesn't require switching weapons.

$50 might be a bit much considering some of the minor bugs and performance issues but if you picked up during the sale for a mere $25 it is totally worth it. It's not perfect but it is a great immersive experience.